Clallam County voter participation in Feb. 9 special elections neared 40 percent by Tuesday, with 39.06 percent, or 9,001 ballots, returned of the 23,033 mailed for levy questions in Sequim and Cape Flattery school districts and a proposed levy lid lift in the Joyce Fire District.

All elections are mail-only, and ballots must be returned to the Clallam County Auditor’s Office by 8 p.m. on Feb. 9 or postmarked by Feb. 9 if mailed.

The Sequim School District levy measure would raise $4.05 million for Sequim’s public schools next year, $4.9 million in 2012 and $5.78 million in 2013.

A total of 8,265 ballots, or 40.25 percent, of the 20,534 ballots mailed to Clallam voters in the Sequim School District had been returned by Tuesday.

The school district stretches from Blue Mountain Road through Sequim to Gardiner in Jefferson County. A total of 253 Jefferson County voters received ballots on the Sequim schools question.

Sequim’s proposed levy replaces one that expires at the end of this year, and raises the tax rate.

In the Cape Flattery School District, —- which includes Clallam Bay, Sekiu and Neah Bay — 295, or 27.49 percent, of the 1,074 ballots mailed to voters had been returned by Tuesday.

The Cape Flattery replacement levy would bring $350,000 to the school district.

So far, 441, or 30.75 percent, of the 1,434 ballots mailed in the Joyce Fire Department — Fire Protection District No. 4 — levy lid lift election had been returned.

The measure asks voters to approve a levy lid lift to fund fire protection equipment, maintenance and operations.

If passed, the levy lid lift proposition would authorize the district to restore its 2010 regular property tax levy rate to an amount not to exceed 76 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2011.

The fire district unsuccessfully attempted a levy lid lift in November 2008.

The school levies will need a simple majority — 50 percent plus one vote — to pass.

The fire district levy lid lift must have a 60 percent supermajority to pass.